Fashion and Design Practice
This UC Davis Summer Abroad Internship program partners with a local internship provider, SEKAIA, that coordinates personalized internship placements, housing, onsite orientation, cultural activities, and 24/7 emergency support.
After enrolling through UC Davis Study Abroad, participants complete a supplemental application with SEKAIA to begin the placement process.
While SEKAIA provides in-country support and services, UC Davis Study Abroad administers the academic program, and all participants earn UC Davis academic credit.
Prepare Your Application Materials Early
The timeline between enrolling in the program and submitting your internship application is short. Shortly after enrollment, you will receive instructions from SEKAIA to begin the placement process, and application materials are typically due within 1–2 weeks.
To avoid delays, we recommend preparing some of your SEKAIA application materials. This includes updating your résumé, drafting your cover letter, requesting a letter of recommendation, selecting a professional headshot, and possibly organizing a portfolio that showcases your best work. Having these materials ready allows you to focus on presenting your skills and experience while giving SEKAIA the information needed to identify internship opportunities that align with your interests and career goals.
Internship Placement Process
After you receive confirmation of enrollment in Fashion and Design Practice in Tokyo from UC Davis Study Abroad, you will receive instructions from our internship partner, SEKAIA, to begin the placement process.
As part of your application, you will submit:
- A current résumé or CV
- A cover letter
- One letter of recommendation from a professor, advisor, or employer
- A professional headshot
- Possibly a portfolio showcasing your creative work
- An internship questionnaire outlining your interests, experience, and career goals
As part of the placement process, you will participate in an interview with SEKAIA to discuss your background, professional interests, and internship goals. Once a potential host organization has been identified, you will interview with the internship host before your placement is confirmed.
Your application materials and interviews are used to match you with a participating internship host who aligns as closely as possible with your academic background, professional interests, and experience. Because placements depend on host organization needs and availability, specific internship placements cannot be guaranteed. We encourage students to approach the placement process with flexibility, professionalism, and a willingness to learn.
Final internship placements are typically confirmed shortly before the program begins.
No prior Japanese language experience is required for this program.
Sample Internship Placements
Resume and Cover Letter Resources
We strongly recommend that you meet with an advisor at the UC Davis Career Center or the Career Center on your home campus to have your resume and cover letter reviewed prior to submitting these documents to Global Experiences. The Career Center provides many online resources, such as resume, cover letter, and letter of recommendation examples.
Transcript Notation
Students participating in UC Davis Study Abroad Internships are eligible to receive Transcript Notation (TN). Transcript notation documents your academically approved internship on your official UC Davis transcript. By having your experience noted, it provides proof of where and when you participated in an internship. This is especially valuable for international internships that may be difficult for a prospective employer or program to contact.
Transcript Notation is a process you’ll start within the first two weeks of your internship placement through Handshake, the tool UC Davis Career Center uses to connect students and employers.